Hi All,
If you get timed tickets for the afternoon at Borghese Gallery, is it mobbed? By that I mean, it sounds like some "timed" tickets (Vatican Museums) are mobbed if you are there in afternoon. Many posters say get to places first thing. I am wondering if we get timed tickets for this gallery, can we expect to actually get in and enjoy at the assigned time without it being way too croweded.
thanks,
Joanne
Joanne, the Borghese operates very differently than the Vatican museums, the biggest difference being that you can only get a day-of ticket for the Borghese if someone cancels. They have a strict limit on the maximum number of visitors they allow for each 2-hour slot. The Vatican's limits are apparently not nearly that strict plus many visitors willing to stand in a long line get in on day-of tickets. Lastly, there's no limit on how long one can spend in the Vatican Museums - so there are long periods where there are more coming IN than going OUT - whereas the Borghese clearing the gallery between each 2-hour slot eliminates that build-up of bodies.
The Borghese routinely sells out but the cap on visitor numbers and visiting time makes it so there's little if any difference what time of the day you visit. Make sense?
I disagree with what you have heard about the Vatican Museums. We go there often and find that the late afternoons are less crowded than the mornings when all the tour groups are there. We avoid mornings there at all cost…the tour guides holding up their flags/umbrellas with so many people following them and blocking the access drives us to distraction.
The Borghese is just like what Kathy stated above…normal crowds at all times…they do a much better job of crowd control that the Vatican Museums.
We just got back from Rome and had an 11am timed ticket and it was very pleasant. Not very crowded at all. (Even though Rome was jammed packed everywhere else). We even had a room empty where it was just us for a few minutes while we enjoyed the many statues. The Timed tickets and limited amount of people really helps there.
Thanks very much all. Do you suggest doing the guided tour or just enjoy on our own?
Wondering if any of you have done the guided tour there and what you thought of it.
Or if there are download-able tour options to listen to.
Again, thanks to all for your help (and patience!) with this green travel planner!
Joanne
Someone suggested we enjoy the park nearby the gallery too. Anyone have other suggestions for what to do while we are in the area of the gallery? If we do afternoon visit, perhaps a recommendation for dinner nearby?
We are staying on the Vatican side of the Tiber because friends stayed at a AirBnB there and recommended it. I feel like perhaps we may have been better to stay on other side of the river, but we are excited. We are figuring we will walk to and get a lift back (or vice versa) depending on how far things are.
Thanks,
Joanne
Hi Joanne,
I can only speak from my experience as to the Borghese gallery. I had a ticket for 5-7 pm on Sunday, September 22. I loved that time. It was not crowded and I thought the darkness outside made the galleries with windows pop more and gave the overall inside a pretty vibe. I also did a guided tour, but found the guide not the best. He tried to be funny about different exhibits, but failed as no one seemed to get his sense of humor. Just the luck of the draw on guides though I think. He did provide some interesting tidbits about different exhibits.
It's a beautiful small'ish gallery and I'm so glad I went!!
Joby
Thanks for your tips. I absolutely LOVED your trip report. Sounded like a letter from a friend. I wish I had known about where you stayed. We would have loved that. We are meeting a seminarian who did a rotation at our parish in CT last summer. He is studying at the Pontifical North American College and promised us a tour of the seminary and lunch there in between his classes. He was the one who suggested the Borghese Gallery to us. Other than that, we are on our own to plan what we do/see as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.
I really appreciate you, Kathy, and all the others who are so willing to share your experiences and suggestions with us.
Joanne
Go straight upstairs first in the Borghese Gallery and work your way back down.
Everyone else will be doing the opposite, so it may be a little less crowded doing it this way.
The Gallery is well worth a visit.
Please don't overlook the fact that you are required to LEAVE at the end of your 2-hour slot. That means that, generally, the entire set of booked people is on line at the moment the group is admitted through the turnstile/gates. Allow time for locking up bags (?) and cameras (?), whatever the rules are, and going to the toilet before you get into the line. There's a snack bar outside the entry as well.
Honestly, I don't see much difference between the front of the line and the back of the line, in this case. Say, three minutes max?
"We are meeting a seminarian who did a rotation at our parish..."
When I was there quite a while ago there was a program where local home town clergy, who were at the Vatican for some reason, could give early morning tours of St. Paul's next door. It was wonderful.
Since your friend didn't mention it I assume it doesn't exist anymore.
Robert H,
It does still exist. Seminary students from the Pontifical North American Institute (located near Vatican City) do give free tours on Mondays and Thursdays at 2:30. We are planning to visit St. Peter's when it opens so will not take advantage of this.
We are planning to get the free tour the seminarians give at St. Paul Outside the Walls church that they give on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3pm.
We are also going to join Nick for lunch (and a tour of the seminary) on Wednesday.
Here is link to the school's website: https://www.pnac.org/visitorsoffice/links/
They have links to information regarding churches, mass times (and when/where masses are celebrated in English).
Hoping this may help other Catholics visiting Rome.
THANKS
Joanne
You've gotten really good advice from others.
I'll just add that Borghese has a size limit on the purse you can take in otherwise you have to check it (mentioned above). When I went in 2022 I knew my regular cross body would be too big so I wore the small 5x7 cross body I wear on the plane to keep my passport/money/CCs on my body at all times. It was fine. Here is the link on what size bag is allowed.
https://galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it/en/visita/
I'd signed up for a guided tour of the Borghese which was cancelled at the last minute. On the recommendation of a forum member I'd watched Simon Schama's Power of Art series (from the BBC) on Bernini on YouTube. Wow...it really helped me to see and understand his amazing sculptures in the Borghese.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3H6z037pboHn36i1a03RuRQ0zCwa-8GO
I was blown away by the Borghese. I'm not really a "sculpture" person but the work by Bernini there were just jaw-dropping.
I'm usually not a fan of a guided tour but our guide was outstanding. I would definitely recommend one for the Borghese gallery.
And you have gotten great advise about bag sizes allowed. We found the line and system very long and chaotic. I wish I had known before!
Re-emphasizing the luggage issues. Even rather small purses by most standards have to be checked so get there early enough to get that done and carry critical ID etc in very small purse. I use a bandolier phone/carrier with tiny attached envelope purse. Normal size purses are checked and that takes time and you must leave when your time slot is done.
wow, Thanks all! I had no idea on pocketbook issue. I would have thought mine was ok...just ordered one on line that meets the size requirements. Will likely just use everywhere.
I will def watch the You Tube video before museum....
Really appreciate all the advice here.
tx,
Joanne
